Automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus



W. G. BOTTOM. AUTOMATICHRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS. APPUCATION FILED-JAN. 13. 1919.

1379,61 5a Patented May 3L 1921.

I 3 5 55-3595 :555 F;- a C Invento came @FFEQE.

VJILLIAM G. BOTTOM, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISEING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May er, 1921.

Application filed January 13, 1919. Serial No. 270,954.

same.

This invention relates to automatic fire extinguishing apparatus of that kind in which a smothering gas is generated and discharged directly at the place of combustion or on the body of burning or other material.

l The principal object of my invention is to provide for automatically and instantly generating a non-oxidizing or smothering gas which is heavier than air, and which can be-vdischarged at the place of combustion or caused to flow over or on the surface of a body of burning material or other material not ignited, such as oil or other highly inflammable material and quench the fire, or prevent combustion.

One of the special objects is to PI'OVlClG.

for quicklygenerating a fire extinguishing gas or vapor by heating a chemical solution in a tank and expelling or discharging such gas under the pressure of generation over or upon burning material rather than applying liquid to such material.

Another object is to provide automatically movable means for keeping an electric heating coilimmersed in the diminishing body of chemical liquid from which the extinguishing gas is generated, so that the generation of gas will be substantially uniform, and so that the coil shall not be burned out by the current due to exposure out of the liquid.

The matter constituting my invention Wlll be defined in the claims.

I will now describe the details of construc tion and operation of my invention by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: I

Figure l'represents diagrammatically and in plan part of a room and a tank to conering gas.

tain oil and my generating and extinguishtical section of my fire extinguishing apparatus.

In fire extinguishing apparatus now in use the chemical agent is commonly thrown upon a surface which must be hot enough to gasify the chemical or no gas will be generated, and often the fire will gain headway before an extinguishing gas is generated by the burning material in sufficient volume to extinguish the flame. In the case of oil fires or gasolene fires where there is a large surface burning and the flame has not heated parts of the surface on which the chemical in liquid form can be thrown, such chemical sinks into the inflammable liquid and is not effective to arrest combustion. By my method of generating a fire extinguishing gas or vapor in a tank and discharging it upon the burning or inflammable material, combustion can be promptly stopped, and that portion which is not ignited will be prevented from burning. The fire extinguishing action is automatic by reason of the fact that, when a fire is started in a building or in a tank of oil, the heat will melt a fusible link in a line wire, thereby releasing a switch and permitting an electric current to pass into an electric heater in a gas generating tank containing a chemical solution which by heat will yield a smoth- The initial heat of combustion acts automatically to start generation of a smothering gas through the medium of an electric current.

I provide a container tank or reservoir A,

the top a filling opening a for a chemical solution, such as carbon tetrachlorid or other chemical from which may be evolved a heavy non-inflammable or smothering gas or vapor. A filling opening a, having a cap a, is provided in the top of the tank. With the top of the tank is connected a gas outlet pipe at which may connect with a pipe system K extending through a building. Branch pipes 70, k lead from pipe K to oil tanks or other stores of combustible ma terial.

A float B, about the diameter of the tank,

. nected to their lower ends the insulating upon the fire, as in a tank N or a pile of blocks E, E, resting on the bottom of the tank. To the conductors D, D, are connected by binding screws cl the line Wires f, f

A line wire f leads from a source of electr1- cal energy F, as a battery, and connects with a switch'block g in a bracket or box H. A pivoted switch bar Gr on a post 9' is adapted to make contact with block 9 and has connecting with its upper end a spring h which is attached to the box H. A line-wire f connects with the switch and with the conductor D.

A fusible link L is connected in a linewire Z which is attached to the switch bar G to hold it open against the action of the spring h. A line-wire Z connects to the link L and leads to another part of a building, and may have connected in it a number of .fusible links L so as to provide for meltmg a link wherever a fire may occur in a building and thus release the switch bar G.

The operation is very simple and practically automatic, for, almost as soon as a blaze. starts in any part of a building or in a body of oil, one of the fusible links L will be melted, thereby releasing the switch bar G, Whichwill be pulled by spring 71. against the blockg, establishing electric connection with the battery F and causing current to pass through the heating coil C. Gas will be. immediately generated from the chemical solution in tankA and will flow out under pressure through the pipe at" and be discharged through a branch pipe 70 or 76 boxes P. The gas being heavier than oil or gasolene simply covers the fire with a blanket of nondnflammable gas which ex- 50 7 k guishes the fire.

eludes oxygen and smothers and extin- When the float descends by reason of the liquid M being gasified, it will finally rest upon the insulators E, E, and break the electric circuit, thus stopping generation of gas and preventing the coil from being burned out. It will be understood that the float may be of metal.

The tank will be made large enough to hold an adequate supply of liquid to meet "the requirements, according to the conditions present.

The actlon of the apparatus is prompt and eflicient and has given satisfaction in practical use. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a chemical liquid capable of yielding a non-combustible gas, a movable'heater in the liquid and adapted to move downward as the liquid is gasified so as to remain immersed, -means for automatically supplying by heat of a fire an electric current to the heater and a discharge pipe for gas leading from the receptacle above the chemical substance, whereby the gas may be discharged upon burning or combustible material.

2. An automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptable adapted to contain a chemical liquid capable of yielding a non-combustible gas, a movable electric heater immersed in the liquid, means for carrying said heater and adapted to move downward as the liquid is gasilied, so that the heater willremain immersed, means for automatically supplying by heat of a fire electric current to the heater, and a discharge pipe and connection for gas leading from the receptacle above the liquid.

3. An automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, having a receptacle adapted to contain a chemical liquid capable of yielding a non-combustible gas, a float in the receptacle carrying an electric heating coil and having sliding contact pieces connecting with the coil, vertical electric conductors upon which said pieces bear, a gas discharge pipe above the float and means for automatically supplying by heat of a fire current to the electric heater.

4:. An automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a chemical liquid capable of yielding a non-combustible gas, vertical electric conductors in the receptacle and having insulators at their lower ends, a float carrying an electric heater, contact pieces connecting with the heater and bearing on said conductors, means for supplying current to the heater and means actuated by heat of a fire for turning on the current and a gas discharge pipe leading from the receptacle and connecting with branch pipes leading to a store or stores of combustible material, whereby a smothering gas may be 1spread in blanket form over said mater1a V r 5. An automatic fire extinguishingapparatus, comprising a receptacle containing'a chemical liquid capable of yielding a smothering gas or vapor, an electric heater in contact with said liquid for converting it into gas, a gas discharge pipe leading from the top of the receptacle and extending into a compartment of a building, a line wire, having one or more fusible links, also extending into said compartment, a spring actuated switch connecting with said Jim wire, a source of electrical energy and conductors connecting therefrom to the switch and to the electric heater, whereby, in case of fire in the compartment, said link will be fused, the switch released and a cur rent passed to the electric heater, thereby generating a smothering gas or vapor.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM G. BOTTOM. 

